Wheeler Yuta made history at ROH Final Battle.
Yuta previously won the ROH Pure Championship by defeating Josh Woods at ROH Supercard of Honor in April. Yuta retained the title against Daniel Garcia at ROH Death Before Dishonor. But on the September 7 episode of AEW Dynamite, Garcia dethroned him. As part of the Blackpool Combat Club’s lengthy feud with the Jericho Appreciation Society, Yuta then challenged Garcia in a rematch for the gold at ROH Final Battle. Despite a valiant effort from the champion, Yuta scored the win by elbowing Garcia in the head until the referee called for the bell.
With his victory at Final Battle, Yuta became the first two-time ROH Pure Champion in ROH history.
What an absolute battle between @garciawrestling and @WheelerYuta for the #ROH Pure Championship!
Order #ROHFinalBattle on PPV now!@BRWrestling: https://t.co/EdGVni5sMA
Available on all major providers pic.twitter.com/NsxQD7pCem— ROH – Ring of Honor Wrestling (@ringofhonor) December 10, 2022
Here’s how the match broke down, courtesy of our play-by-play coverage:
Yuta takes the fight to Garcia and uses two closed-first strikes right away. The match spills out of the ring, and Yuta slams Garcia into the steps. Garcia fires back and Slams Yuta into the steps. The champion grinds Yuta’s face into the turnbuckle. Wheeler turns it around and does the same thing to Garcia. The champion gains the upper hand by wrenching Yuta in the ropes. He sends his opponent into the turnbuckle and locks in a surfboard through the ropes. In doing so, he forces Yuta to use a second rope break. Garcia twists Yuta’s legs and stomps him into the mat. Yuta tries to rally, but Garcia chops him and locks in the Dragon Slayer. Yuta reaches the ropes, so he uses his third and final rope break. Yuta keeps fighting, but Garcia locks in the Sharpshooter. Yuta gets out of it and locks in a Crossface. Garcia goes for a Crossface, but Yuta turns it into a pin attempt. Both men are down after a brainbuster.
Yuta hits a high Angle Slam. Garcia plans Garcia with a piledriver for a two count. He locks in the Sharpshooter, and with Yuta out of rope breaks, he’s forced to desperately claw at Garcia’s face to escape. Garcia rallies and takes Yuta down with a back drop. Yuta hits a piledriver for a two count. Yuta elbows Garcia repeatedly, and the referee calls for the bell.
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